▶️ Relationship Video

(Relationships Slide: long-term, relational nature of the work)

We distinguished between being an Educator and a Lobbyist. Now, let's talk about the glue that makes both of those roles effective: building relationships.

(Visual: making something stick)

Remember that core problem we started with? Everyone joins too late. The solution is to start building connections now, long before a critical vote is on the agenda. This isn't about a single, dramatic speech. ‘Mikedrops rarely matter in these meetings.' This is a long-term investment.

Your goal is not to be the loudest voice in the room for one meeting. Your goal is to listen, become known, trusted, and reliable as a resource for the things you see.

(Visual: Building Relationships with Allies and Decision-Makers, network)

This work happens like a bridge. On the first side, you need to find and build relationships with other people and organizations who are working on the same issues you are. These allies are invaluable to help you understand the history of an issue and combine your impact. Attend their meetings and read what they put out. The online algorithms don’t show it all so you might just need to call them and ask where their best work is.

The second side, of course, is building relationships with the committee staff and members themselves. Here is a tool to work on your mindset for this.

(Visual: Be a Listener, Be Remembered, Be Reliable)

Walking into these meetings can feel like an alien planet. There are many procedural rules, often formal buildings, and all kinds of norms that aren’t written down anywhere! The main thing is to embody these qualities: Be a Listener, be Remembered, and be Reliable. Let's break those down:

Be a Listener. Watch recorded meetings or show up just to observe. You will pick up on the jargon through osmosis. See who speaks up and on what topics. How are speakers using their time? What set of meeting rules are they using and do they have bylaws or other written documents? Don’t spend too much time reading the rules because you will learn more about how to act in the meeting by observing.

Second, Be Remembered. But remembered for what? That really is going to depend on your goals. Aim to be constructive and on topic. This is where your 'Educator' skills shine. Maybe you send a brief, factual email after a meeting thanking them for discussing an issue and offering a link to a relevant data report with no ask attached, just helpful information. Maybe you want to be remembered for the community that you represent so they know who to go to when your neighborhood comes up. Maybe you want to be remembered for your fearless stance on a topic with a lot of stigma.

And third, Be Reliable. If you say you're going to follow up with information, do it or share why the information is not available. If you commit to attending a meeting, be there and follow up after if you miss something out of your control. Reliability builds trust when a crisis or a major vote on your issue finally happens, that trust is how you get heard.

Your words carry much more weight if they already know and respect you.

(Visual: summary graphic.)

You’ll have more notches on your belt when you shift from a reactive to a proactive mindset. It's about consistent, thoughtful engagement over time.

(Visual: Action Steps

* Find and attend a public meeting of a relevant committee just to listen.

* Identify one local organization working on your issue and sign up for their newsletter.

* Find the public contact information for a key committee staffer and send a short, positive note about a recent meeting topic.)